Straw-binding harvester



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No. 462,306. Patented Nov. 3; 1891.

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C. E. DONNELLAN.

STRAW BINDING HARVESTER.

No. 462,306. Patented Nov.3,1891.

nimml III (No Model.) n 9 Sheets-Sheet 3. C. E. DONNELLAN. STRAW BINDING HARVESTER.

No. 462,306. Patented 1\T0V.3,1891.

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9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(Nomodel.)

G. E. DONNELLAN. STRAW BINDING HARVESTER. No. 462,306. Patented Nov.3, 1891.

Lun-l L m ux m E l I j@ /w (No Model.) 9 Sheets--Sheet 5. G. E. DONNELLAN. STRAW BINDING HARVESTER.

Patented Nov.3,1891.

(No Model.) 9 sheets-sheet 6. C. E. DONNELLAN.

( STRAW BINDING HARVESTER.

No. 462,306. Patented Nov. 3,1891.

(N0 Model.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 7. C. E. DONNBLLAN.

STRAW BINDING HARVESTER.

No. 462,306. Patented NOV. 3,'1891.

WamS, IHA/M1?, W M M (No Model.) l 9 Sheets-Sheet 8.

C. E. DONNELLAN-- STRAW BINDING HARVESTER.

No. 462,306. `Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 9.

C. E. DONNELLAN.

STRAW BINDING HARVESTER. No. 462,306. Patented NOV. 3,1891.

W ieses ees, ff',

tIEirrEn @raf'rEs FarrENr OFFICE.

OIIARII 1S E. DONNELLAN, OF OIIIOAGO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO .IOIIN M. THOMPSON, OFv JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

'STRAW-BINDING HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters atent No. 462,306, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed July 16, 1890. Serial No. 358,966, (No model.)

T0 @ZZ 1071/0711, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. DoNNEL- LAN, a citizen of the United States, residing' at Chicago, in the county of Oook and State Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw-Binding Harvesters, of which the following is a specifica tion.

My invention relates to a self-binding harvester which forms a straw rope and binds the gavel therewith.

(')ne of the features of my invention is an improved packer, the same comprising a rotatingshafthaving a spiral screw-fiange which engages the incoming grain and feeds it forward, packing it in mass to form the gavel, the threads of the screw passing angularly through the deck. A

I have also provided a new form of feeder for the grain from which the straw rope is made, which comprises an endless moving chain or belt having thereon jaws which seize a few straws at a time from the mass of incoming grain and carry it back to the ropemaker, and I also provide a hopper which may be filled by hand with suitable straw from which to form the rope, andfrom which hopper the jaws are adapted to take the straw, the feed-chain with its grasping-jaws being so arranged that it may be made to take the grain from the incoming mass or from the hopper.

My improved rope-maker comprises atrough or casing into which the .feed-chain delivers the straw and within which trough is secu red a rotating shaft having projections from its periphery, which engage the straw to cause it to rotate with the shaft, and said shaft having'a pointed end, over which the rope is formed, said rope being conducted from the rope-maker over a take-up device to the needle-bar and co-operating binding mechanism.

I have also made an improved looper, which comprises a rotating rope-carrier which takes the free end of the rope aftergrain suli'icient for a gavel has accumulated and after the needle-bar has descended, carrying the rope down on one side of the gavel, and carries the free end of the rope behind that portion of it carried by the needle-bar and around the sheaf, and then partially around the bight to form the loop and releases said free end and completesits second revolution, during which it engages the rope again and the band is severed. (3o-operating with this needle-bar and 55 looper lis a tucking device, the same comprising an arm which is reciprocated at an angle to the knot and which has tucking-iingers formed upon the edge of a disk and adapted to be rotated with the fingers, piercing the 6o knot so as to tuck the ends of the band be- -neath its body portion, thereby completing the knot. A

I have also made certain improvements in the mechanism for starting and stopping the binder and for controlling` the discharge of the gavel.

I have also improved certain other features of the construction of the machine, whichimprovements will be hereinafter particularly 7o described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a rear elevation of so much of the machine as is necessary to be shown in order to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a front eleva- 75 tion thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the discharge side of the machine. Fig. -l is an elevation, partly broken away, of the grain side, the platform being shown in section.' Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, So showing the packer and tucker in side elevation; and Fig. 6 isaplan view of the deck side of the machine, particularly intended to illustrate the relation of the packer, tucker, and rope-twister- Fig. 7 is a detail in side eleva- S5 tion of the means for adjusting the feed-chain to cause it to take from the incoming grain or from the hopper, as desired. Fig. S is au enlarged detail of said chain in side elevation, and Fig. S is a like detail in plan. Fig. 9o f) is a plan view of the rope carrier or twister with its covering-plate removed, and Fig. lO is a sectional detail thereof intended to show particularly the gearing for driving the twister. Fig. ll is a plan view of the twister,

view with the ing-fingers in place and shown atY their position after the tucking operation has commenced. Fig. 17 is an elevation of the inner side of the casing. Fig. 18 is a View of the covering-plate. Figs. 19 and 2O are views of the two sides of the disk having the tucking-tiu gers, the lat-ter figure showing the segmental gear formed integrally with the disk. Fig. 21 is an edge view looking down upon the points of the fingers. Fig. 22 is a side elevation of the discharge-arms and showing` the tripping mechanism for operat Ving said arms intermittently.

Fig. 23 is an edge view of the discharge-arms, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow of Fig.'

`andwhich transmits motion through a sprock-Y et-wheel 29 to the beveled gear 30, enmeshed with a beveled pinion 31, mounted on a driven shaft 32, which drives the sickle, and also by means of a suitable driving-sprocket moves the link belt 33, through which power is transmitted todrive the platform-belt, elevatorbelts, rope-maker, packer, and binding mechanism. W

34 represents the platform, 35 the elevatorframe, and 36 the deck on which the grain is discharged from the elevator, and the parts heretofore described may be of the usual or any suitable construction, and the grain is cut and elevated in the usual way.

-My improved packer in the preferred construction consists of a rotating shaft 37, which is driven by means of the beveled gears 38 39, the latter being loosely mounted on the shaft 40, (see Fig. 6,) which shaft is rotated by the driving-belt 33, which engages the sprocket 4l on the end of said shaft. This shaft has a sliding clutch member 42, which engages the hub of the beveled gear 39, and the movement of this clutch therefore controls the operation of the packer. rOn the packer-shaft 37 is a spiral flange 38, which works through an aperture in the deck and engages the grain deposited thereon, feeding it forward. The deck-floor is usually inclined, and I prefer to make the ange 38 conical and arrange its shaft ina horizontal plane, the small end of the fiange being that which iirst engages the grain and the large end tilling the space, so as to prevent the return or choking of the grain and holding it securely packed during the formation of the sheaf. This screw form of packer is auimprovement in many particulars over the ordinary vibrating packers, and its chief characteristic is an even steady feed forward of the grain withris discharged.

out breaking the straw or imparting to the grain any shock or blow which has a tendency in packers of the ordinary construction to thrash out the grain.

Instead of making the packer conical or tapering from end to end, it may be made of uniform diameter and placed in a plane pass* ing through the platform at such angle as will bring the receiving end of the packer with its flanges flush or slightly above the platform and the disch arge end above the su rfaee of the platform' sufficiently to prevent the return of the grain. end of the packer, it is forced up the inclined spring-arms43. Thesearmshaveanumberof integral coils 44 between their ends and stubs45 extend through the coils to support the springarms. The forward end of the arms 43 are bent to prevent the grain from the forminggavel backing out under them, and their opposite ends are projected downwardly, so as to be engaged by cams 46 on a shaft 47,which is driven by the binder-chain and the revolution of which shaft is so timed that the spring-arms are rocked on their pivots while the gavel is being bound, so as to check the intiow of the grain until the bound gavel The primary purpose of the arms is to hold thergrain up to the feeding device which carries the supply of straw to the rope-maker, and this feeding device comprises an endless belt or cable 48, (see Figs. 1 and 5,) which is driven by a shaft 49, earrying a sprocket-wheel 49, engaged by the driving-belt 33. The belt 48 maybe an ordinary link belt, and ity is carried from the sprocket-wheel on/its driving-shaft upwardly to the apeXof the angle-frame and its strands are turned over the guiding-sprockets 50 and around a sprocket 51 on a shaft 52, carried upon arms 53, whose opposite ends are secured with a rock-shaft 54. This rock-shaft has a crank 55-(see Fig. 7) applied thereto, and a shift-rod 56 is connected with the outer end of this crank and projected into conven- V ient proximity to the drivers seat.

The feed-belt 48 bears thereon co-working jaws 48a. These jaws are secured, respectively, with adjoining links of the chain and may be cast integrally therewith. Their form may be considerably varied; but I prefer to make them substantially as shown in Figs. 8 and 8 of the drawings. One of the jaws has its lower end bifurcated, the legs thereof being connected, respectively, to the side bars of the link, while the point is slightlyhooked,

so as to insure its engagement with the straw, and the other jaw is adapted to work in the aperture between the diverging legs of its fellow and under the curved point thereof, and its upper edge is notched to receive the straw, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. A number of these grasping-jaws will be provided at suitable intervals along the chain, and they are brought into condition to receive the straw by the turning of the chain around the sprocket-Wheel 51, owing to the links which As the grain leaves the forwardY IOO carry them being turned at an angle to each other, which causes the jaws to open, as shown in Fig. S of the drawings, and when in the revolution of the chain the links are again straightened the jaws are closed, thus grasping the straw tightly therein. It will be observed that the shaft carrying the sprocketwheel 5l is positioned above the spring-arms 43, and these arms force the grain upwardly, so that it passes in position to enable the hooked jaw to grasp the straws as the jaws make the turn about the sprocket 5l. These jaws discharge the straw into a rope-maker located on the grain side of the machine, and which rope-maker will be described presently. In order to enable the jaws of the feed-belt to turn the lower sprocket 50, the latter may be made in the form shown in Fig. 25 of the drawings.

It may be found expedient to provide an independent supply of straw from which to form the rope, and to this end I employ a hopper or reservoir 57, which is located above the deck and has a discharge-aperture 5S slightly above the pulley 5l, and this aperture is closed against the passage of straw therethrough, when desired,by means of a latch 59, pivoted at one end, and which is rocked on its pivot by means of a link G0. connected with the crank 55 on the rock-shaft 54:. \Vh'en this shaft is rocked in its bearing, it not only raises `the sprocket-wheel 5l and chain so as to bring the jaws into position to take the straw from the reservoir or hopper, but it also opens the aperture by moving the latch 59 out of the way through the intervention of the link GO.

The rope-maker will be best understood by reference to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. It comprises a trough Gl, supported on a bracket-arm G2 and its open side presented in position to receive the straw falling from the feed-chain a8, which, being turned around the sprocket- 51, opens its jaws in the manner above described, so as to deposit the straw in the trough. This trough has a spiral bead Gl"L in its body, which works the straw forward. Rotatably mounted within the trough (Sl is a shaft 63, having projections (54, which engage the straw and twist it about the shaft. This shaft has a pointed end (53, over which the rope is formed, and a roller 6i is journaled in a vertical slot at the base of the point, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. This roller serves the same purpose as the other projectionson the shaft to cause the twisting of the forming rope; but it is journaled so that it may be rotated by the rope as it passes off the point of thc shaft, and thus prevent therope from becoming tangled. The trough has its end inclosingV the pointed end of the shaft converged, and an aperture therein permits the adit of the rope (35. The shaft (33 is driven by gear-wheels 6b' G7, the former being mounted upon the-shaft i9, on which the sprocket 5la is mounted. At the rope end of the shaft 49 it carries a feed-wheel (58, and a second feed-wheel G8 is journaled beneath it, and

between these feed-wheels the rope is conducted, passing thence over a guiding-pulley (it), thence around a sliding pulley 70, which serves as a take-up for the forming rope while the sheaf is being bound. From this take-up pulley the rope passes over a guide 7l, and is conducted thence to a point above the binder, being suitably guided in its course, and is thence threaded through a needle-bar 7 2 and its end carried downwardly and engaged with a rope carrier and looper. Theneedle-bar reciprocates in guide 73. Motion is imparted to it through a belt 75, which is mounted on a shaft 75, driven by a be1t75b, which is carried over a sprocket on shaft 75C, which latter is driven byabelt 82, hereinafter described. The belt 75 is connected to the needle-bar by means of the pivoted links 76, and the reciprocation of this bar is so timed as that it descends when a sufiicient quantity of grain has accumulated to form a gavel. On its downward stroke its point divides the grain, carrying the bightof the rope down with it until it has passed below the plane of the looper. In these movements the links allow the bar to remain stationary for au interval at the end of its downward movement, and this gives Asufficient time for the looper to operate. The looper is shown in detail in Figs. 9, l0, and ll of the drawings, and its position with reference to the co-operating parts is best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This looper comprises a rotatable open ring with its ends slightly separated, one projecting above the other. This ring-like portion is marked 77, and it maybe cast or wrought to the form desired. It. is secured to revolve within a frame 7 8, and the form of the looper in cross-section is best shown in Fig. l0 of the drawings. It has on its lower side rack-tecth, which are enmeshed with the pinions 79 on stub-shafts 8O Sl, the former being geared with a driving-belt 82, carried over a sprocket on shaft 40, and the latter heilig' driven from the hollow shaft 83, turned by belt 82 and the short belt Si. The rack should cover more than half of the surface of the ring 77, and the purpose of cmploying two driving-pinious is to provide for imparting to the open ring a continuous rotary motion, and the form being such that it would be difficult to drive it from gearing applied to its periphery. The upper end of the ring is farther from its axis than the lower end and it bears a grasping-jaw S5, which is pivoted between its ends, the forward end being adapted to hold the rope, while therear end is provided with gear-teeth 86, which engage with similar teeth on the hub of Athe bellcrank lever S7, pivoted also to the open ring. One member 871L of this bell-crank lever is engaged by a com pression-spring 8S, coiled abouta sliding rod 85'), moving in keepers or ways on the frame, and the other member S7" of the bell-cran k projects beyond the periphery of the ring and is adapted to engage a springpin 7 8 on the frame 7 S, and which is adapted to be proj ectcd above the surface of said frame IOO IIO

IIS

by the impingement thereon of an arm 77h, connected with the tucking mechanism and hereinafter to be described. A detailview of the spring locking-pin is shown in Fig. 26, and it is there shown normally depressed. by its spring 78C. As the tucking mechanism is not operated until after the loop has been formed, the spring-pin is not actuated until the loop has been formed, which has occupiedthe time of a complete revolution of the looper. During the first revolution of the ring the rope passes through the opening inthe ring. When the loop has been formed, the pin on the second revolution of the looper strikes the projecting member of the bellcrank, opens the jaw, and in order to hold the jaw open until it reaches the rope a ledge 7Sb is formed on the periphery of the frame 78, as shown in Fig. (3 of the drawings. At the end of this ledge the jaws have passed into position to engage the rope, and the spring being free to act-the jaws are grasped upon the rope and the looper continues its revolution until it has carried the rope behind the forming sheaf, as shown in Fig. 11. When the rope has been again engaged and while it is tightly held against the under side of the ring by the upward movement of the needle, carrying the rope with it, a knife 90, projecting from the edge of the lower end of the ring, engages the rope and shears it, thus leaving the knot-tied and free to be turned by the tucker, while the looper continues its revolution until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, when it is thrown out of gear.

The mechanism by which the looper is thrown out of gear is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. To the shaft 40 is applied the sliding clutch-member 42, one end of which engages the hub of the beveled gear 39,-which imparts motion to the packer-shaft, and the other end of said clutch member engages a corresponding member on the hub of the sprocket of the driving-belt 82, which imparts motion to the looper. The clutch mechanism is shifted automatically by means of lugs S2 on the side of the driving-belt S2. (See Figs. (5, 22, and 2i.) The clutch member 42 is engaged by an arm 42a, projecting from a sleeve 42h, which slides on a rod 42C, held in brackets on the frame. This sleeve has a coiled spring 42d. 421* is a sleeve, also mounted on the shaft 42, and has a spring 42C, the latter having an extended end, which is hooked beneath an arm 422 projected from the sleeve 42h. During each half-revolution of the belt 82 one of its lugs 82a is brought into contact with the projection 42g on the arm 1122 and thereby the sleeve 42D is vshifted endwise on its rod, throwing the clutch member 42 into engagement with the clutch member on beveled wheel 39, thereby putting the packershaft in motion. The same movement throws the binder out of gear and the lug S2? holds it out of gear until the arm 42f is tripped by the weight of the sheaf in the manner to be .The tucker comprises arms 91, which are pivoted on the deck-frame and carry an open frame 93, from the-outer end of which rises a head 94, having a removable face-plate 95.

A shaft 96, having its bearing in the open frame 93, projects at one end into the cavity of the head, and the end of said shaft bears a sprocket-wheel 97, while its rear end carries a beveled pinion 9S, enmeshed with a rack-segment 99 on the disk 101, mounted on the shaft 47, driven by belt 82 and having on its face a heart-shaped cam-track 102. One of the arms 91 bears a roller 92, which travels within the cam-slot, and the disk being rotatably mounted the reciprocation of the tucker-head is thereby effected. In the upper part of the cavity of said head is mounted a mutilated disk 103, having a gear-segment 104 on one of its faces and projecting fingers 1042L in the bottom of the cavity of the disk and lying in the plane of its body. A linkbelt 105 is carried around sprocket 97 in the bottom of the head and the segmental gear on the disk bearing the tucking-iingers, as clearly shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. Now it is apparent that when the disk having the cam-track thereon is rotated the cam will raise the head to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 12 of the drawings, and then the continued rotation of the disk will bring its gear-segment into mesh with the beveled pinion, thus rotating the shaft and through it turning the link belt and the disk bearing the tucking-iingers. The first operation-viz., raising the tucking-head-oauses it to move upwardly, entering the aperture in the ring of the looper, so as to engage the knot on the lower side of the sheaf. The fingers or prongs pierce the knot and partially turn it, and by this time the rope has been severed and the pinion has engaged the rack of the disk 101, thus moving the belt carrying the tucking-fingers. Then the disk has been completely rotated, the knot has been turned,

so that the free ends of the band are securely tucked, and it only remains to discharge the sheaf.

106, Fig. 6, represents discharge-arms,which are secured to the respective ends of a shaft 1063, which is passed through the hollow of shaft 83. These arms are secured near their middles t-o their supporting-shaft, and their faces are preferably curved, as clearly shown in Fig. 22 of the drawings. One of these arms has on its hub oppositely-projecting pins 107, which are adapted to be engaged at one point in the revolution of the chain 82 by lugs 10S on the chain S2, the result of which engagement is to rock the shaft 106, bearing the arms, thus discharging the sheaf and bringing the other members of the arms into IOO IIO

position to receive the grain for another sheaf.

10S, Fig. 22, is a pivoted latch, which is adapted to engage the pins 1,07 and hold the discharge-arms against rotation until said latch is lifted by the lug IOS, which engages the under side of the latch and raises it before striking the pin, thus unlocking the arm.

10S" represent arms, which are secured with a rock-shaft 10S, Fig. il, and said rock-shaft has a spring 10s, which is adapted to depress the arms, as shown in liig l. These arms are preferably light iron rods and curved, as shown. lhey are adapted to pass and eugage shoulders llO on the ends of arms 10G, whereby their entire separation from the discharge-arms is prevented during the forma ltion of the sheaf while the rods are permitted to rise, slowly sliding on the shoulders while the sheaf is forming, and when the sheaf is discharged they are entirely freed by the rotation of the discharge-arms. The incoming grain exerts a certain pressure on these arms, which I utilize to shift the clutch mechanism to put the binding mechanism into gear and to throw the packer out of gear, and this I do by means of a pivoted bar lOhaving at one end thereof a bearing on a ledge 110 on the side of the discharge-ari'ns and its other end projected to engage an extension of the arm 42g, as clearly shown in Fig. 2i of the drawings. Now when the pressure of the incoming grain under the feed of the packer has exerted sufiicient force to rock the shaft 10G in its bearing, thus rocking the arm 106,Wl1ich is receiving the grain downward, the lever 109 will be rocked on its pivot, thus depressing the extension of the arm sufficient to cause its disengagement with the lug 82 on the chain 82, and thereupon' the spring` .42 will return the clutch member into engagement with the sprocket which drives the chain S2, and the binder will thereby be thrown into 4which the other features are employed,

gear and the packer out of gear.

It is obvious that modifications may be made in the structural features above described and mechanical equivalents may be used for some of the operating mechanisms, and also that some of the features may be omitted in the construction of a harvester in For example, changes may be made in the strawcarrier-as, for instance, the carrying-belts described may be duplicated and the auxiliary hopper might be dispensed with. The jaws also 'may be spring-actuated to hold them normally-closed and tripping devices employed for opening' the jaws to engage and release the straw. The gearing of the several parts may also be differently arranged, and instead of the several belts shown positive gearing may be employed in some instances with advantage. I do lnot therefore limit my invention to the precise details of construction and arrangement of parts.

I claiml. In a self-binding harvester, a packer therefor, comprising a rotatable shaft having on its periphery1 a conical screw-flange the threads whereof taper lfrom the discharge to the receiving end of thepackcr, substantially as described.

2. In aself-binding harvester, the combination, with a packer comprising a rotatable shaft having a peripheral conical screw-dell@ tapering from the discharge to the receiving end of the packer, of arms adapted to receive the grain from the packer and direct it upwardlyto a straw-carrier for the rope-maker, and a straw-carrier adapted to take straws from the incoming grain and deliver them to said rope-maker, substantially as described..

In a straw-binding harvester, the combination, with means for elevating the grain and packing it to forln the gavel, of a strawcarrier for the straw-rope maker, comprising endless flexible belt having driving and guiding pulleys and traveling in line with the moving grain, said belt having thereon coworking jaws adapted to be opened by the turning of the belt around its pulley to seize vStraws from the moving grain at one point of its circuit and discharge them at another point convenient tothe rope-maker, substantially as described.

4E. In a straw-binding harvester, the combination, with means for elevating the grain and packing it to form the gavei, of a strawcarrier for the rope-maker, comprising a link belt havinga driving anda guiding sprocket` wheel, and co-working jaws secured with adjacent links of the belt and one of said jaws having ahooking-pointand the other arecess in its upper side, whereby when the belt is moved into contact with the grain the jaws are opened and the hooked jaw gathers straws therefrom and the recessed jaw receives said straws at one point ofthe circuit and saidjaws are opened at another point of the circuit convenient to the rope-maker by the turning of the jaw around its pulley.

5. In a self-binding harvester, a packer therefor, comprising a rotatable spiral proj ecting through an aperture in the platform in a plane passing angularly through the platform, whereby the receiving end of the packer is adapted to take the grain from the plat` form and the discharge end thereof acts as a stop to limit the backward movement of the grain, substantially as described.

0. A rope-maker for straw-binding harvesters, comprising a trough-shaped receptacle for the straw from which the rope is made, anda shaft rotatably secured within the straw-,receptacle and having a smooth cylindrical body, with projections thereon to engage and twist'tlie straw, substantially as described.

7. A rope-maker for straw-binding harvesters, comprising a trough-shaped straw-receptacle having a spiral bead in its peripheral wall from end to end thereof, and a shaft rotatably secured within the receptacle and having projections thereon adapted t0 engage IOS IIO

and twist the straw, the bead co-operating with the shaft to feed the straw to the forming rope, substantially as described.

8. In astraw-binding harvester,.the combination of a straw-carrier belt having jaws adapted to seize straws from the mass of moving grain and carry and discharge them to a rope-maker, and an auxiliary straw-reservoir, from which the belt is also adapted to take straw at need, substantially as described.

9. In a straw-binding harvester, a needlebar through which the straw rope is threaded, said bar having driving means comprising an endless belt, and pivoted links connectingY said bar and belt, whereby an inconstant reciprocating motion is imparted to the bar, substantially as described.

10. A bandlooper for straw-binding harvesters, comprising a rotatable open ringshaped body having rope-grasping jaws and a trip adapted'rto open said jaws to release the rope, substantially as described.

11. A band-looper for straw-binding harvesters, comprising a rotatable open ringshaped bodyV having rope-grasping jaws, a trip for said jaws, and aknife secured on the rotating body and adapted to sever the band after the loop is formed, substantially as described. y

12. A band-looper for straw-binding harvesters, comprising a rotatable open ringshaped body having rope-grasping jaws, one

fixed and the other pivoted, and a spring connected with the pivoted jaw and ,adapted'to hold it normally closed upon its fellow, substantially as described.

13. A band-looper for straw-binding harvesters, comprisingr a rotatable open ringshaped body having rope-grasping jaws, one ixed and the other pivoted, a spring connected with the pivoted jaw and adapted to hold it normally closed upon its fellow, an arm connected with the pivoted jaw, and a trip adapted to engage the the arm, whereby to rock the pivoted jaw to release the rope.

14. A looper for straw-binding harvesters, comprising a ring-like body having an opening thereinand arack'on its lower side, Vpinions enmeshed with the rack at opposite points in-the path of motion, and graspingjaws carried by the body and adapted to carry the rope to form the loop.

15. In a straw-binding harvester, the combination, with a reciprocating needlebar through which the straw rope is threaded and means for reciprocating the bar to carry the bight of the rope in front of the gavel, of a looper comprising a revoluble plate having an opening therein,rpivoted jaws to normally engage the free end of the rope, 4gearing to turn the body, whereby to pass the end of the rope outside the bight held by the needle-bar on the initial revolution, and a tripping device adapted to open the jaw to release the rope end toward the close of the second revolution of the looper, substantially as described.

16. A tucker for straw-binding harvesters, comprising a swinging frame khaving a head. adapted to be projected against the gavel and having rotatably secured therein a disk bearing tucking-ingers to engage the loop, gearing for swinging the frame to project the fingers into engagement with the loop, and gearing to rotate the disk bearing lthe tucking-ngers, whereby to tuck the severed ends of the band and form the knot, substantially as described.

17. In a tucker for straw-binding harvesters, a swinging frame having` a bearing on a cam-track formed on a rotating disk, said disk having also a circular rack-segment, a shaft journaled in the frame and having a pinion to engage the rack, a head on the swinging frame into which the shaft projects, a disk having tucking-fingers rotatably mounted in the head, and gearing between the shat't and disk bearing the tncking-iingers, substantially as described.

1S. In a self-binding harvester, the combination,with the packer and binding mechanismV and a driving-belt therefor, ot a'springactuating sliding clutch mechanism adapted to put the packer or binderin motion accordingly as it Y.engages the gearing of the one or the other, a discharge-arm carried by a shaft adapted to be intermittently rotated by a driving-belt having vlugs thereon, a pivoted arm bearing yieldingly during the formation of the sheat' on the discharge-arm, and a latch sustaining the end of the pivoted arrn opposite the discharge-arm and adapted to be tripped by the lug on the driving-belt, whereby the pressure of the grain is utilized for controlling the shifting of the clutch mechanism, substantially as described.

IOO

19. A tucker for self-binding harvest-ers,

comprising fingers or spurs adapted to be projected to engage the band at the loop and adapted to be rotated in engagement therewith, whereby to turn the loop to secure the ends of the band, substantially as described.

20. In a self-binding harvester, the combination, with the packer, of a spring arm or arms adapted to receive the grain from the packer. and to yieldinglysupport the grain against a 'liked part of the machine, whereby to maintain a plenum of grain from which to supply the rope-maker, substantially as described.

2l. In a straw-binding harvester, the combination, with means for elevating the grain, of a straw-carrier for the straw-rope maker, comprising an endless carrier adapted to engage straws in the mass of incoming grain and carry it'to the rope-maker, substantially as described.

CHARLES E. DONNELLAN.

lVitnesses:

C. C. LINTHICUM, E. L. HUBER. 

